AV Hope on the Go October, 2011 Volume 1, Issue 7 Loving & Ministering to the Antelope Valley in Jesus Name This Month s Testimony 2 Feed My Sheep 3 God s Doing 3 Thxs for the Mac n Cheese 4 Psalm 10:17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry. Cup of Noodles Drive 4 Park Stories 5 One Kingdom of God 6 AVHG is grateful for the donations of food, supplies, clothing, monetary gifts & volunteer hours which have impacted hundreds of lives. The following are current areas of need: Cans of coffee Cases of water Bibles & Gospel tracks Monetary donations for gas & supplies Thank you for your faithful prayers & volunteer hours. This is a continual & critical need as we serve the Lord & the Antelope Valley together. Please call or text 661 305-3874 to make donation arrangements. PO Box address is located at the end of this newsletter. Thank you. AVHG Goes To High School Last month Antelope Valley Hope on the Go found itself on the move from McAdam Park to Palmdale High School. That s the beauty of a mobile ministry, explains AVHG disciple of hope, Sandy. If God says, Go here, now then we get in the RV and go. She adds, We established great relationships at McAdam Park which AV Unite! Together In Worship 10/28-29 It s music to God s ears already: AV Unite! Together in Worship! Ken Bayard, Worship Pastor from DWCC explains, The purpose of this 2-Day event is to bring The Body of Christ in the Antelope Valley together to worship as one and grow in our understanding and expressions of worship. continue to be nurtured. But we could not deny that God was asking us to spend time with the youth. So now, every Wed. at 1 p.m., as a sea of students steams down Ave R making their way home after school, six to nine disciples of hope greet them with smiles, bottles of water with Scripture on the labels and snacks. When students and parents ask why we do Friday Night, October 28 th is a "Worship Concert" featuring worship leaders and musicians from multiple churches in the AV. This event is FREE and all are welcome to come. Starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 29 th from 9 am - 4pm will be a General Session in the morning followed by workshops and instrument clinics to this, we share that Jesus loves them and God has not forgotten about them. Until God says differently, this message will continue at this location on Ave R & 26 th St E. One parent said she d donate a case of water! Another parent is now an active volunteer in the park with AVHG. God s the Leader. We all get to follow. help equip the greater body and grow us in our understanding of worship and worship leading. Worship leaders, worship band members and anyone who loves worship and wants to grow is welcome to come. Cost for Saturday is $15 and includes lunch. For more information call 661/ 266-3400 x 303
2 TYPE TITLE HERE This Month s Testimony God did for me what no doctor could do, Douglas Meet Douglas. Spend one minute with Douglas to discover the charm and wit that has made him one of the most likeable friends within the AVHG community. Douglas is quite a character. He is a faithful participant at the Courson Park fellowship time and can always be found wearing a straw hat and holding a large cup of coffee. Douglas is quick to share humorous remarks and corny jokes, to everyone s amusement. I like to make people smile, he says. Douglas joined the AVHG community several months back when a disciple of hope saw him outside of the Palmdale Post Office and invited him to join the fellowship in the park. If it wasn t for Bob, I wouldn t be here with all of you today, explains Douglas recently. When he crossed paths with Bob, Douglas was struggling with depression over the loss of his wife a year and a half earlier. I was lonely he shares. Now I look forward to walking out here to be with all of you. Douglas is 68 years old and walks a minimum of 17 miles a day. Yep, 17 miles. For years Douglas has been trekking up and down Palmdale Blvd to and from his home in Lake L.A. Seventeen miles is the one way trek. Sometimes I walk both ways, Douglas boasts. One of his favorite lines to say is, Any day you can get out of bed is a good day. Douglas means this literally and says it with much gratitude. Years ago, after being attacked while at work, doctors told Douglas he would never walk again. For three years he was in bed and unable to walk. God did for me what no doctor could do, says Douglas. He got me up out of that bed. God is also binding up Douglas broken heart while he lives as a widower now. With friends in the park community as well as a church family at Light of the Desert, where he serves as a church leader on Saturday evenings, Douglas inspires others to live life to the fullest, thanking God for each day. And we should all do what the Good Book says, he says smiling.
3 Feed My Sheep Ministries Comes To Desert Winds Church On Thursday, October 14 th, Desert Winds Community Church (DWCC) in E. Palmdale will begin Feed My Sheep Ministries at their facility. From 6 7 pm FREE hot meals will be provided for anyone who comes. No ID is required. No one will be turned away. This will launch the second night of the week when free hot meals will be provided for the community at DWCC. Grace Resources and various community groups within the Antelope Valley, sponsor the Soup Kitchen on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. at DWCC. For more information on the free hot meal programs offered at DWCC, please call 661 266-3400. The Church is located at 13 th St E. and Ave Q 13 in E. Palmdale. If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9-11 God s Doing Every Christian is invited to participate in God s plan for humanity. (Matt. 28:19) To watch God loving, reconciling, healing, forgiving and restoring is to witness the Kingdom of God at hand! (Luke 7:22, Luke 4:18) We share the words of the Psalmist who wrote, This is your doing, O God; it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23 The Bible tells us that it is God s desire that none should die to be eternally separated from Him. More than anything, God wants each human being to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and to repent from their sin. In this way, we shall live forever with God, to worship Him. (Acts 16:31, Acts 17:30) The easiest way to define sin is the notion that we do not need God and are fine without Him. This is a lie that Satan wants us to believe. Pride is sin and our pride tells us that we can live our lives the way we choose, rather than obey God s instructions for living. The Truth is that we all need Jesus because we all are sinners. (1 John 1:8) The wages of sin is death, but Jesus, who was sinless, died on a cross, in our place. He was risen from the grave three days after He died. Today He lives forever. Death had no hold on Him. (1 Corin. 15:1-4) The Spirit of Truth is at work constantly in all people, revealing the Truth of Jesus sacrifice and God s love. (John 3:16) But true love does not force or impose. God will never make anyone choose the gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus. The invitation to receive is for all. Even you. Right now. This is God s doing; it truly is a marvelous thing. He loves you. He forgives you for everything & anything. Just ask. And receive.
4 TYPE TITLE HERE Thanks For The Mac n Cheese, Folks Many thanks to everyone who donated boxes of Macaroni & Cheese last month! As boxes were received, they were donated to families and individuals who were in need of food. A woman who is referred to AVHG for groceries, steps into the RV and timidly asks, What do I need to get some food for my family? The response she receives, Just ask, which you just did. Relief overcomes her face. No ID required. No series of 20 questions that often creates shame and embarrassment. Bags of food, including Mac n Cheese are handed out, always in the name of Jesus. When people thank us, they re reminded with a smile, Thank Jesus, who is our Provider. Cup of Noodles Drive: Oct. & Nov As the weather here in the desert of the Antelope Valley begins to shift from hot to cold, AVHG kicks off a soup cup drive for the months of October and November. Whether it s Top Ramen, Cup of Noodles or any other brand, please consider picking up this practical food staple. A homeless couple explains that some 7/11 locations will permit use of their hot water for cup of noodles or hot cocoa. Some high school students don t have a homemade dinner to go home to or money to get something for themselves. A cup of soup is an easy food item to hand out to students on their walk home from school.
Park Stories 5 Your God, Jesus, Is My God! An elderly couple is referred to the park where the RV is parked. We need food, explains the husband in a thick Iranian accent. His eyes are full of shame. He feels compelled to tell of the days when he once made a six- figure salary. Now they rent a room in Palmdale and receive food from local food banks. But the shame seems to be what hurts the most. They are open to prayer. They are told of the One who removes our shame and promises gifts A Witness To The Nations money cannot buy. Soon prayer requests are for their loved ones who are in need of restoration. After one month of faithful weekly prayers and fellowship, the wife one day bursts out loud, Your God is full of mercy and kindness! Your God, Jesus, is my God! Praise the Lord! I feel good here. It is like Jesus says to love one another. A lively and joyful conversation takes place among three new friends at the park. Seth, a Messianic Jew, introduces a woman from Egypt to another from Turkey and another from Iran. I wish I had a picture of all of us talking and laughing, says Seth. It makes me think of how God says we re to be a witness to the nations, he adds. The three elderly women communicate in broken English with lots of smiles as they enjoy their pastries and coffee in the park. Two greet each other in Arabic. The woman from Turkey tells Sandy later, I feel good here. It is like Jesus says to love one another. Amen. May the Love of Jesus continue to flow as a witness for all to see and experience. (John 12:32) New Homes, New Starts A single mom and her two kids move into the neighborhood from Bakersfield. Another single mom and her teenagers move in on the same block. They re from Long Beach. A young couple find an apt to rent in the same neighborhood. They all desire a fresh start in life. They all came to Palmdale not knowing anyone. Soon. they all meet in their local park during AVHG fellowship time. They encourage one another as they receive prayer and encouragement from others. Now, the new neighbors & friends attend church together on Saturday evenings. God is good. He is a relational God.
6 TYPE TITLE HERE One Kingdom Of God Jesus Is Lord! AV Hope on the Go PO Box 4812 Lancaster, CA 93539-4812 Phone (661) 305-3874 E-mail avhopeonthego@ yahoo.com The Spirit of God continues to move on His people to serve within the Courson Park Community. The following are Bible teaching, Spirit lead, Christian churches that proclaim Jesus as the Son of God. Disciples of hope from each of these churches serve alongside AVHG. Each is within walking distance from the Courson Park community. Antelope Valley Hopeonthego What is AV Hope on the Go? A ministry of listening A ministry of compassion A ministry of hope We are one Kingdom of God. We re all invited to worship and fellowship with one another as the Body of Christ. There s no rule that states we must attend one church exclusively. Hallelujah! More relationships available to be made! Desert Winds Community Church Q 13 & 13 th St East Sundays 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. 661/266-3400 Holy Fellowship Baptist Church Palmdale Blvd & 6 th St East Sundays 11:30 a.m. The Bridge Church Q 13 th & 13 th St East (DWCC facility) Saturdays 6:00 p.m. 661/703-9825 Light of the Desert Q 7 & 9 th St East Saturdays 6 p.m. 661/305-3874 Centro Cristiano Luz del Desierto Q 7 & 9 th St East (espanol) Sundays 5:30 pm 818/391-9321 : Mission Para Las Naciones Ave R & 27 th St East (espanol) Sundays 818/317-9546